A NURSING APPLICATION OF THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR WITH RIGHT TO KNOW DILEMMAS (MORAL BEHAVIOR).
Contributors: University of Minnesota.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 136
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Developmental.; Psychology, Social.
Description: The purpose of this study was to identify the antecedents and determinants that are predictive of a nurse's moral behavior when "right to know" moral dilemmas occur. The study theoretical framework was the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen & Madden, 1986). The theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1987) depicts a perspective congruent with nursing's focus on decision making and social mandate for moral agency. The issue of nurses' perceived behavioral control is especially salient because nurses are predominantly female and are employees who lack autonomy in many situations. The integrity of the nurse was a study variable.

The researcher divided the study into two phases. Phase One, was a pilot study using a 14-subject sample of the study population to elicit the specific attitudinal, normative, and perceived behavioral control beliefs in relation to a hypothetical "right to know" moral dilemma. The sample was drawn from all registered nurses on selected units at a large Midwestern university teaching hospital who fit the inclusion criteria and volunteered to participate. Fourteen subjects were randomly selected from the study population and completed the elicitation questionnaire. Phase Two was the administration of the Moral Intention Questionnaire that tested the predictive assumptions of the theory of planned behavior. This questionnaire used the most recurrent beliefs identified in the pilot study questionnaire. Twenty subjects completed the Moral Intention Questionnaire after they experienced a "right to know" moral dilemma in their nursing practice. They completed a follow-up questionnaire within 24 hours of the dilemma.

The study results provide support for the hypothesized relationships of the Ajzen model. The results showed significant positive correlations between attitude toward behavior and the nurse's underlying belief (r =.51); and subjective norms and the nurse's underlying belief (r =.81). Significant positive correlations were found between moral intention and moral behavior (r =.58); and perceived behavioral control and moral behavior (r =.86). Recommendations included replicating the study in a variety of settings so that the results can be more generalizable; using a larger sample size to assure adequate power for stepwise multiple regression, and using different types of moral dilemmas to fully reveal the total domain of moral dilemmas experienced by nurses.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-05, Section: B, page: 2554.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, 1995.

School code: 0130.